List of IFL National Champions
The IFL National Championship (previously known as the United Bowl) is the annual indoor American football game that determines the champion of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The game culminates a season of the same year and is the conclusion of the IFL playoffs. The winner receives the IFL National Championship Trophy. The contest is held in an American city, chosen by the IFL in three-year agreements. Since August 2022, the winner of the Eastern Conference Championship Game has faced the winner of the Western Conference Championship Game in the culmination of the IFL playoffs.
IFL National Championship Games
[edit]Numbers in parentheses in the table are championship appearances as of the date of that championship and are used as follows:
- Winning team and Losing team columns indicate the number of times that team has appeared in a championship as well as each respective teams' championship record to date.
- Venue column indicates number of times that stadium has hosted a championship.
- City column indicates number of times that metropolitan area has hosted a championship.
| 2009–2017 | 2022–present |
|---|---|
| United Conference | Eastern Conference |
| United championU (9, 6–3) |
Eastern championE (3, 0–3) |
| Intense Conference | Western Conference |
| Intense championI (9, 3–6) |
Western championW (3, 3–0) |
Consecutive wins
[edit]Two franchises have won consecutive championships:
Consecutive losses
[edit]Four franchises have lost consecutive championships:
- Tri-Cities Fever (2011 and 2012)
- Nebraska Danger (2013, 2014, and 2015)
- Sioux Falls Storm (2017 and 2018)[a]
- Arizona Rattlers (2019 and 2021)[b]
Consecutive appearances
[edit]The full listing of teams with consecutive championship appearances is below in order of first occurrence; winning games are in bold:
- Billings Outlaws (2009 and 2010)
- Sioux Falls Storm (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019)
- Tri-Cities Fever (2011 and 2012)
- Nebraska Danger (2013, 2014, and 2015)
- Arizona Rattlers (2019 and 2021)[b]
Rematches
[edit]The following teams have faced each other in more than one championship:
- 3 times – Sioux Falls Storm (2013, 2014, and 2015) vs. Nebraska Danger
- 2 times – Sioux Falls Storm (2011 and 2012) vs. Tri-Cities Fever
- 2 times – Arizona Rattlers (2017) vs. Sioux Falls Storm (2019)
- 2 times – Massachusetts Pirates (2021) vs. Arizona Rattlers (2024)
IFL National Championship records by franchise
[edit]| UnitedU/EasternE team | IntenseI/WesternW team |
| IntenseI/UnitedU team | |
In the sortable table below, franchises are ordered first by number of wins, followed by the total number of appearances, and finally by the total number of points scored for the franchise throughout all appearances. Included in the table are all of the team names that each franchise has had since the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football merger in 2009.
| Franchise | App | W | L | Pct. | PF | PA | Seasons (champions in bold) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls StormUE | 11 | 7 | 4 | .636 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 | ||
| Arizona RattlersIW | 4 | 2 | 2 | .500 | 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024 | ||
| Billings OutlawsI | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2009, 2010 | ||
| Massachusetts PiratesE | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2021, 2024 | ||
| Iowa BarnstormersUE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2018 | ||
| Northern Arizona WranglersW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2022 | ||
| Bay Area PanthersW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2023 | ||
| Nebraska DangerUI | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 2013, 2014, 2015 | ||
| Tri-City FeverI | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2011, 2012 | ||
| RiverCity RageU | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2009 | ||
| Spokane EmpireI | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2016 | ||
| Quad City SteamwheelersE | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2022 |
Teams with IFL National Championship appearances but no victories
[edit]Teams with no IFL National Championship appearances or long active droughts
[edit]See also
[edit]Explanatory notes
[edit]- ^ a b The Sioux Falls Storm are the only IFL team with both consecutive championship wins and losses.
- ^ a b Since the 2020 season was canceled due the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arizona Rattlers appeared in and lost consecutive championships in 2019 and 2021.
References
[edit]- ^ Grialou, Craig (28 February 2018). "Arizona Rattlers set to defend Indoor Football League championship". Arizona Sports. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Rushing, TJ (7 July 2018). "Iowa Barnstormers take down Sioux Falls Storm for Indoor Football League championship". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Zimmer, Matt (16 July 2019). "Lorenzo Brown secures legacy as Storm great with latest United Bowl triumph". Argus Leader. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Franz, Doug (13 September 2021). "Arizona Rattlers fall to Massachusetts Pirates in 2021 IFL United Bowl". Arizona Sports. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Wranglers Win 2022 IFL National Championship". Signals AZ. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Moore, Michael (8 August 2023). "Panthers win IFL national championship". Morgan Hill Times. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Local QB Dalton Sneed leads Arizona Rattlers to IFL championship win over Massachusetts Pirates". Arizona Sports. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2025.